One great thing about living in the Northwest is that we have fantastic access to fresh seafood. This recipe for Clams with Garlic & Herb Spaghetti makes use of one of our local favorites.

Many families love visiting the Washington coastal areas and go digging for shellfish. Clams, mussels and oysters are easily found – it’s a fun and cheap activity for families, even if the little ones are more interested in the water and rocks. (Always check The Washington Department of Fishing and Wildlife first for rules and regulations!)

We went camping at Dosewallips State Park last year, and I was amazed at how many oysters were just sitting in plain sight. There are, of course, rules about what size an oyster needs to be to collect, but there were plenty available.

Clamming takes a little more work as you have to dig – some varieties you dig very deeply. Every year we visit Orcas Island – another place with easy access to clamming. However, we are usually lazy and don’t dig for our own. Instead we visit Buck Bay Shellfish Farm. They are fresh and tasty, and perfect for Clams with Garlic & Herb Spaghetti. Last year we shared our clams with our neighbours while they shared their freshly caught fish. It was a delicious night of fresh seafood and friends. My only regret was that I hadn’t known we were going to share our meal, otherwise I would have bought more clams!

I’ve made this meal with clams and with mussels. Both shellfish work well in this dish.

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